Abby Choi was a 28-year-old model and influencer with more than 140,000 followers on Instagram who had recently appeared at a Christian Dior show during Paris Fashion Week.
Gruesome Discovery in Tai Po and Lung Mei Tsuen
Choi disappeared on Feb. 21, 2023, prompting a police search that led officers three days later to a rented ground-floor flat in the Tai Po district, specifically in the village of Lung Mei Tsuen. Inside the property, investigators found an electric saw, a meat slicer, and tools used to dismember the victim, alongside walls covered in protective plastic sheets. Some body parts remain missing, and police stated that the suspects wore raincoats and face shields while cutting up the body to avoid blood splatters.
Model Registered Luxury Flat Under Former Father-In-Law to Avoid Stamp Duties
The 28-year-old model had two children with her former husband Alex Kwong before their divorce, later marrying another partner with whom she had two more children. In 2019, Choi purchased a luxury property in a posh residential complex for 60 million Hong Kong dollars—roughly 164,74 milionu korun—and registered the title under her former father-in-law, Kwong Kau, to avoid heavy multiple-property stamp duties. Kwong Kau and his wife moved into the home so that the children could easily visit their paternal grandparents. Relations deteriorated by 2022 when Choi decided to sell the flat, which had risen in value to approximately 72 million Hong Kong dollars, intending to buy another residence in Tuen Mun to better support her children’s schooling, according to Vietnam.vn.
Eviction Enraged Former Father-In-Law and Prompted Murder Conspiracy
After Kwong Kau refused to sign a power of attorney for the sale in mid-2022 and allegedly tried to attack Choi during a July meeting, the model’s mother threatened legal action, leading the former father-in-law to finally sign the paperwork in November. Choi officially evicted her former father-in-law from the luxury apartment, forcing him and his son to move into a small one-room flat. State prosecutor Charlotte Draycott stated in court that this eviction left Kwong Kau extremely enraged, prompting him to conspire with his sons Alex and Anthony to murder Choi so the luxury flat would revert to his name. Prosecutors played WeChat voice messages in court where Choi complained to her mother that she regretted her past financial generosity toward the Kwong family, calling her former father-in-law a scoundrel.
Defendants Admit to Preventing Lawful Burial During Trial
During the ongoing trial scheduled to run through December, the three defendants appeared calm before the jury. While Alex Kwong, Anthony Kwong, and Kwong Kau all pleaded not guilty to murder, AP reported that Anthony and Alex Kwong admitted to a separate charge of preventing the lawful burial of a body between Feb. 21 and Feb. 23, 2023, while Kwong Kau denied both charges. The prosecution presented closed-circuit television footage showing Anthony and Alex discussing the assault, with Anthony demonstrating a physical movement that Alex copied. Each man faces life imprisonment if convicted.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hong Kong Model Trial
What are the specific charges against the three family members?
Alex Kwong, Anthony Kwong, and Kwong Kau are all on trial for murder at the Hong Kong High Court. Alex and Anthony have admitted to the charge of preventing the lawful burial of a body, while Kwong Kau denies both charges.
Where were the victim’s remains found by investigators?
Police discovered parts of Abby Choi’s zohaveného těla on Feb. 24, 2023, inside a rented village house in Lung Mei Tsuen, Tai Po. Her legs were recovered from a refrigerator, and her skull and ribs were found inside a large pot used for soup.
How much was the disputed property worth when bought versus when sold?
Choi originally purchased the luxury residential property in 2019 for 60 million Hong Kong dollars. By the time she attempted to sell it in 2022 to buy alternative housing for her children’s education, its market value had climbed to approximately 72 million Hong Kong dollars.
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